Vulcanizing press



san. 25, 1944. Y L E, SODRQUIST 2,340,231-

VULCANI Z ING PRES S Original Filed Apil l, 1938 6 Sheets-Sheet l gill/111111( 111 INVENToR Eu/.s E. Sane/mwst Y @fi/Q ATTORN EYS Jan. 25, 1944. l.. E. soDERQUlsT 2,340,231

VULCANIZING PRESS Original Filed April l, 1938 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 i v mvENToR [ESL/s E. Sonmu/u ATTORNEYS VULCANIZING PRESS Original Filed April l, 1958 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 BYy ATTORNEYS VULCANIZING PRESS Original Filed April l, 1938 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 lNvEN-roR [ESL/f E. gonseQU/ST ATTORNEYS Jan. 25, 1944. L E soDERQUlS-r 2,340,231

VULCANIZING PRESS Original Filed April l, 1938 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Jan. 25, 1944. L E, SODERQUIST 2,340,231

VULCANI Z ING PRESS Original Filed April l, 1958 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 K INVENTOR 554/5 SODERQU/sr ATTORNEYS @pffi Patented Jan. 1944- UNITED; STATES* PATENT 'oi-Fics i n i l YUICANIZIIIzzuziliiitlissf7;` i y i y y i Leslie E. Soderquist, Akron, 0hio, assignor to` Application april 1. 19ss.1ser1a1 isa-199.411 j s Renewed June 26, 1939- v n reclaim. (ci. isnmI v The present invention' relates f to vulcanizing ipre'sses and"particularly tol presses which are primarily adapted and intended -foru'se in the The invention vulcanization oi pneumatic tires, it being the l object of the invention to improve upon existing press *designs and to secure new and beneficial results, as will be more -fully set forth.l YMore specifically the inventionis an improvement upon closing operation. approaches the lower section in a substantially straight line so that the mold-is properly closed about the green or unvulcanize'd tire. This movement in closing'may be at' righi; angles to the i'ace of the lower section. orv at an angle slightly oblique thereto.

the mechanical operating means for causing one mold section to eifect stripping of a tire from the press as shown in the copending application of `Otto J. Kuhlke, Ser. No. 230.970,'led September 21, 1938. l f

The press of, this invention is ofthe individual type, vthat is to say that the tire is vulcanized between upper and'lower mold sections which are heated, preferably by steam jackets. Presses oil this type are well known in the art, but the present invention introducesnew movements during the 1 opening and closiiig operations which give rise to new 'and' beneficial results not present in earlier to and shown with a single ytire cavity, the principles thereof may be incorporated in presses which typesof presses. While the'invention isadapted the provision oi means whereby the movable mold s section `(where only one section moves), is operlated ina distinctive path so that it functions to strip the tire from the mold. Oi course this principle may be employed where both sections move, but for the purpose of illustration the simpler form is shown anddescribed. Briefly stated, the operation consists in shitting one mold section laterally with respect tothe other section at the beginning of the opening movement. This causes the tire, which is held at this time by the non-skid tread formation, to strip at' one side from one moldV element and at the other side from the other mold element. By this movement the tire is peeled or stripped from the mold without making vit necessary to provide any separatey It is also apurpose or 'the invention to lprovide a powerful opening and closing mechanism which will produce a firm and positive closinglmovement, and to provide-mechanical drivingvv means for the operating parts so that the entire lmechanism may be motordriven. f

. Other objects and advantages williappear from the `drawings and detailed description contained herein, it-being understood that the disclosure is the best and preferred form of the invention and that improvements-and changes may be made in speciiic embodiments without departing from'the essential features of the invention. l

It will also be understood that the features of the invention which relate to means for operating the movable mold section maylbe applied to presses for vulcanizing other articles than yautomobile tires, such, for example,l asytubes, bicycle tires, and other articles or vulcanized rubber.

In the drawings, in whichthe preferrediorm of vulcanizing press is shown: v t

Fig. l is a vertical section through the vulcani izing press showing an automobile tire casing therein with `the two mold sections in closed or operatlve position. This view is 4taken on the line I-I of Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is an elevationk from thev rear or` righti hand vside of Fig. 1, certain of the parts being kshown in section.

ejecting means. The tire will be lifted by its iorward, upper'tread surface so that it moves into a diagonal plane as the press continues to open.-

o and as thepress'approaches its fully opened position, the tire will dropout of the upper half. The

Y operation of the press also makes'it possible to utilize mechanical means to convey the tire away as it is practical to employ a hook or mechanically l operated arm which-` will enter the'. opening between the mold sections below the tire 'just as it is ready to free itself` from the non-skid forma' Nation in the upper or movable mold section.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to 1, showing the press as it begins its opening movement. illustrating they' manner in which the tire is freed from.

' n the mold.

" Fig. 4 is a-view showing. a further stage in the,

opening of the press, `illustrating the manner7 in which the tire is completely freed from-the mold as the press approaches its vfully opened position. Fig. 5 is a view showing the press fully opened. Fig. 6 is ay view `showing the press in its closing movement; or substantially at the point where the final straight-line movement begins.

further contemplates the proto strip the tire from the mold sections. u'pper section is then'tilted upwardly to fully 'open :position while being moved bodily by the Fig. 'I ls a detail view showing the path of movement of the various points inthe press mechanism.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail showing the relation.

of the cams to the lifting and drawing orpulling rollers which control the path of the upper mold.

Fig. 9 is a view of the cams and the lower end of the controlling arm for'the upper or movable mold section.

Before entering into a detailed description'of' the various operating instrumentalities, it will be observed that the peculiar travel of the mov- A able, mold section, here/shown as the upper mold` .'section, is caused by the' cooperation of several instrumentalities. One of these instrumentalities is thelever mechanism which is controlledpand operated directly from a main drive shaft. 'Ihis mechanism comprises pivoted linkage by which which fits at its inner edge between the beads of the tire. This bag is connected to the usual innating pressure line common to the art, not shown. An unvulcanized tire lis shown in Fig. 6. It will be noted that no bead rings or stripping rings are shown in the drawings, it being unnecessary Yto employ such devicesv in this improved press.

As shown in the drawings, the upper and lower l mold sections are provided with relatively long` bevel registers l and Ii, respectively. so that the movable section may be dragged across the stationary section at the very beginning of the mold opening movement. It may be found dethe upper mold lid is raised and lowered and by' which the nal pressure is imparted to the movable section to effectively close the mold sections during the vulcanizing operation. -`The upper or movable mold section is pivoted Y .y

` ftoone of the levers to provide for a floating action '-so 'that it maybe shifted or dragged across the lower or stationary mold `section at the initiation of the opening movement,which` operation serves The g before theoblique movement starts. for otherwise lever mechanism. In the closing movement the uppervsection is'rocked on the lever mechanism until it assumes'a position in substantially parailel' relation to the lowermold and is then lowvered in a'straig'ht line so Vthat the newl tire may be properly positioned. To'control and guide i "the upperor movable sectionduring its bodily translation, there are provided two cam members,

Aone ofwhich may be' termed the pulling or drageilicient mode of *operating the press, but the cam construction," controlling the pivoted or sirable to provide a slight cylindrical or straight A register, in 'which case the control cams will be modified to lift the movable section fora short distance before the oblique or dragging operation is started, butin no case should this lifting movement bel continued for any appreciable distance the tire will free itself from the upper half of the mold and the peculiar stripping action which is characteristic of this press cannot be achieved.

The stripping operation which is performed here is due .to thefact that .the treadformation on the tire is interlocked with the recesses in the mold when the oblique movement is started.

4The lever mechanism l' The lower mold'section is fixed upon a base il in which is pivoted the stationary shaft il which v,forms the fixed bearing for the lever actuating mechanism. On the ends of theshaft II projecting beyond the frame'are the 'two parallelpressure links I8 which extend upwardly beyond the upper moldsection and are pivoted at their upperends, by bearing pins |I,} totwo rocking arms orlevers 2li which extend on either side of the operating centers formed by the pins II. In

A,their lower endsthe levers 20 are connected by the, transverse shaft 2l on vwhich is pivoted the heavy platen 22. The levers I2li are connected to the `heavy transverseweb or bracing 'member 24 which serves to'tie the levers together 'and is Y provided with ywings 25' which support the bearing pins at their outer ends. v s

The upper mold section 2 is attached to the Y, platen 22 bymeans of setscrews 2l which are floating movable mold-section,V -may be varied and-altered without' sacrificing 4the principles of the invention. v

- Referring" now to the detailsof'the drawings- The sections l stationary mold element., here the lower section. is designated i and the movable (upper) mold element or section is designated at 2. Both sectionsy are steam jacketed, 4Vas Ashown in the drawings, being connected to a source of steam.

Each element contains a section of the tiremoldl ing cavity a in which is shown, in rigs. 1,-'3 and 4,. a molded tire` 4 characterized by the non-skid tread formation which is formed therein by the corresponding non-skid formation S -in the tread .area ofthe tire mold; Whenthe tire is vuicanized, the rubber fillsrthe recesses in the tread Y s design and there is a tendency for the tread of the tire to cling in the formations in themold and this property isntilized in the present invenl Vtion to facilitate the removal'oi the tire from the mold. p.

lIl'hietireisshownupontheusuaiairiiagl located in adjustable bushings 2l in 4screwthreaded engagement with the platen. By this means the upper mold may be accurately adjusted. with respect to the lower moldV so that perfect registeris, may be provided between the upper mold section and the platen and may be nlled withinsulating v*material 28.

On the upper end of the reciting arms are located the pivot pins 32 by which the arms 20 are connectedto the two operating links, the lower "ends of which are pivotedv on bushings ll sur# .A rounding pins 36 secured toplates 3l whichy are, v

in turn, fixed upon the sides `of large gears 39,.

The gears 39 are Afixed tothe ends fa main operating shaft 40 supported in the-1 rear of the base i5. This shaft is driven from the gears Il .Y

by pinions 42 attached mounted in the frame. Fixed across the base Il and surrounding the shaft 4l isa motor housing 45 containing'va worm gear 44 fixed to the shaft `-and driven by a worm 4I on thevertical armature shafts! or the driving motor sn.

This motor Il may be automatically controlled by any selected moving part of the press or timing mechanism so that it will be stopped when the assured. VA large chamber to a drive shaft 43 also I mounting of they uppermold section,

has what may beI described asa oating move -f ment during its entire motionfof translation to referred to as J either side of is a roller roller y59 which ging roller.

is shown in Fig. .6.

` eeen roller ss ie actuated by These cams are iixed sectionin its peculiar movement.

Referring now to Figs."7 and 8, 'in-which the several positions of the various parts of the appa- 'ratus are shown diagrammatically:

ldicateri by the line but such devices are'well known `in the art and need .not be further described; Also,` automatic means may be provided to control the pressure to the airbag asY is well known,.so that the pressure 1 therein `will be admittedrto or releasediromthe air bag at theiproper time, and this mechanism .may also include a timing device Ifor, energizing the motor when VAa fixed period of vulcanization has elapsed. i

Reviewing the operationl oi( the-lever mechanlsm and starting with the'parts inthe position shown in Fig. 1, and-assuming that the period prewardly; ,This operation rocks the arms 20 about Y the pivots I9 moving the arms so thatthey raise 'the platen 22. At the rocked about theircenter lI6 and the upper mold nnally assuming the posi- .tion shown in Fig..5 with same time the rlinks I8 are half swings rearwardly,

the mold fully opened,- whereupon themotor stops and the open until vthe vulcanizedtire is removedl fresh or Yunvuicanized tire placedin the mold.

and a `riiold is in ltsruily opened and Yclosed positions.

centers: ieairrdieated .by the une a.vv 'The path of the pointin thehmold farthest removedrfrom the shaft 40 is indatedby the line S, that of the midway points bythe line T and that ofthe point nearest the shaft 40 bythe lineU. The circular orbit of the pin 36,'at which point the link M is 4attachedto the gear 39, is indicated. by the line -v V: Referring ,to Fig. 8, the path of the center of the liftingroller lsindicated by the line X; the path of .the dragging roller 59is indicated by the line Y. The line Z representsthev path of the imaginary point W whionie `tire center of 'the upscribed for vulcanization has elapsed,tlfle motor Vis automatically started -by the timingmechanism. This starts therotation .of the` shaft 44l) in the clockwise direction, drawing the link $4 downe t f kis the beginning e the molds close and return to the original A posiper curved portion of ythe fork'.

In both of the views..the period k'of operation le indicated bjy 'the lettere A tov K inclusive, the

Vpoint A being the v.position of the mold when i closed,- the point B the rstmovement tothe point H when the mold is ,fully-openedg The point K of the straight-line movement as tion. Where the carrlspare shown in outline, the

paris remain YThe mechanism'is then started in operation and the continued' movement 'of the shaft I0 reverses the rocking movement ofthe arms 20,. lowering upper mold section intoposition Von v.the lower mold section, the'closing-operation being, comu .pleted when the parts have returnedto the position shown in Fig.` 1 with' the centers .I6 in alignment,or substantial alignment, where .by a powerful closing pressure is exerted upon the mold sections. l t

The movable mold Vcontrol A .llttentiorr has been directed tofthe pivotal by which it and .from opened and vclosed positions; The

f means bywhioh tire noatiog'movement 'of the up- Y l per mold section is controlled and determined will now be described. f v

Attached to the rear of the upper mold section are two wings towhich are suspended arms 56 controller or guide arms. The lower ends of the arms areforked'as. at 51 and Ypass on On onefa'c'e of'each fork vand near its upper end .'59 which may be designatedas the lifting roiler.`and on the opposite face of each fork and on the side' removed from the mold is the Nat' be with/the dragging cam,' as Vwillgbe described, and Each roller sa rides' uporra'llftirrg cam su and 'a dragging cam 6I.v tothe shaft I0 and, in cooperation with the movement imparted by the designated as the drag`V Thesidelof the fork nearer to the mold is provided with a straight face to`l cooperate `position of the parts-is vat the A point.

Assuming that the parts lare in A position and the shaft starts to rotate to `open the mold, the lever vmechanism, of course, begins `to function at once -to fraise the upper mold sectionbodily and to vrock it away rearwardly, as shown by the lines PQ and R. Were the -mold xed,..this

. of the cambi) ycontinues vto retreatlfromlthejcenter ofthe shaft ,until the Apoint K is reached, at

,- which time-'the roller dropstowardtheoenter.of f the shaft. At this time the partsare .shown in 'the position of- Fig- 6 when thefmold; is closing and the final movement is in a sstrai'ghtline. At this time theflargeconcentric'eface of each cam BI is in contact with a straight-,side of ,fork 51 so .that the upper half of the mold settlesin the straight-line movement. Y t

the main operating s'hai't v4i). If

`v`desired, for further strength the vlowerjend of the forked arms may beclosed in, as shown in Fig. 9.

two control 'cams yelementso asto cause itto move as shown in Figc?. The -initial movement is diagonallyrearwardly and upwardly, although: the Lfaces need The movement is theresultofthe main rock-f ing movementor movement of translation imparted bythe lever mechanism, I,modified by the which l guide the upper, mold i not be maintained in-.faccurate parallelism, as

. ymight bathe-,case withoutgaltering theessentia-ls "of theinvent-ion; ,Thecontinuedopening movement is a rocking movement, the front'of the mold moving appreciably faster than therear,

and this continues in afairly-regular fashion.

lever mechanism, direct and guide the upper mold The path of the center shaft! I upon which the platen is carried and about which it rocks, is in- P (Fig. 7). 'The' path 0f the f by tlie line Q, 'this being an shaft I9 is indicated arc about the center I8. The path of thepin or On the return movement. asshown bythe line U, the rear of the mold first moves upwardly while the front of the moldl is moving downwardly so' that the upper half of the mold rocks toward parallelism .witlr' the lower half o f, t he rriold and f. the retarding of the rear side oi themoldcauses the two mold sections tobe in substantial par- 7' allelisrn when the point-K is'reached. i 4From this point on, the upper mold moves downwardly with litsface in substantial or full parallelism with the lower half ofthe mold. f Resume In the operation of the present device the tire is caused` to 'perform as-followss 'As-immovable. mold ls dragged across thev fixed Imold," fthelforwardsideof i theftirei "remains eembedde'd "by its non-skid'deslgn in the upperhalfoffthe molti,

While therear Side of the tlreis einliedded'."inwtlief4 nonj-skid'formationin thelowerh'alf 'oithe'moldi f 'lhisiis ,shown ini Fim 3. Continued openingf movement compresses the tire diametricallybel tween ldiagonally opposite yareason the tread sur-V- face andl lifts the vfront of the tire, which lare tainedby the non-skid formationopening- "movement, the tire rocks or rolls -pro' gressi'vely out" of contactr with the. inner,v surface of the mold halves, untilit isheldsolely by the opposite diagonal areas. As-th'e 'upper` mold .halfreachestheposition of Fig. 4, the rearslde ofthev f tire isjfully extracted'from its non-skidforma.` tion `andthenthe frontsidedrops'away. from-thai` claims.

Duringl the.:

meansVN to',y actuate. th'e swinging;` arm' yfrom 1 theupper 'half of theV mold. Thus the vtire-is auto'- matica'uy StIiDPedbyfthe 'mere opening.; action.. v-oithepress.v l

vOn closing',` the'desirablestralghtlinefmove-- ment issecured which centers and lc'vcatesftheinew` tire` in its correct position without danger oir' pinching the tire at the'tread or beads; Y

While I have shown anddescribedonefembodment 'of my invention vit'is to'be'un'clerstoodthatv the invention is Anoi;e so limitedbutfthat various: modifications may bel resorted to withinthe'vspirlt of the'in ention and thescopeof the `subjoined whatl is claimed isf 1. Ay vulcanizing press` comprising ai. base,-a; mold i memberr attached.` to the.l base. a pivoted arm" journaled vin the base,l la swinging arm on, the' pivoted meansto rocktheqplvoted and' swinging arms in unison, a; second Vmold'member.: pivoted on the swinging arm.- andmovable cams4 associated with the secondfmold member. and" 'actuated in timed relation' to the movement of-j the second mold member to"controlthe'positlonz. of.V the secondl mold member while itl iswbeing: bodily moved by the said arms.

2.- A vulcanizingpressi comprising"l a: base, a'4 moldmember attached to the'base, a pivotedvarmt journaled kinthe base. aswinging armzonzthe'enm ofthe plvoted arm,'a link 'connectedto the swing'- moldmember," andiY movable cams i actuated.Sv in;

timed relationtowthez-movement ofxi the-movable mold.f'fmembersand-Fcooperatingiwlththerguidingg armto 2 modify; theplane; off the;v movable-,f mold y l 1 4"memberdurlrig'itsfbodilirmovement:1

6i? Infazvulcanizingpress.;a-relativelyiixedand asmovablefmoldmember. 1a :pivoted 'armv having a;

IilxediV axis;l ai swinging` armi on'.- the'y endof` the pivotedi arm; the, movable. mold.' member.: being pivotedi onztlie swingingf arm, az rotary shaft; ,aI link* connectedztofthe shaft and' :toa-the" swinging arm, aaguidingfarm-attachedtotthemovable mold member," and'zapairi of rotary` cam'.r members-:op-

erativelvffassociated` withV thel guiding -v armf. and

operative.x to@ modify fthe*y movement' ci: the'.L said.. movable moldf member during its.l operation,l one of i' said came members.1.controlling' lateral move;-U

ment Lof? the.- -movable mold 'memberrandfftliefother."

controllingf verticali movement of; thes movable;

7. -Inz af; tire vulcanlzingpress.- twocooperating; mold: elements-, means@j to movefone -of 1 saidy ele-- ments bodily.` in" a,v generally arc-shaped;l path .to and Ifrom .the otherielement; andimeansftofmodify the `said :movement offsaidmovablemold yel'ementy comprising..a-:inovabie` camiand a guiding arm on the movable `mold felement cooperatingtherewith.

8. In a=vulcanzing1press1a relativelyrilxedicav.`

- ityf member` andl afy movable cavity member. asso-- j ciated .therewith-and -means for controlllngmove.-U

ment of the movable' cavityfmember comprising` anv arm attached to. the. movable 'fcavi t1,rmember'.l

.and; a pair oiffrotaxfy;membersoperativelyxassociated-V with'. saldi arm` and. operatives; tcrfmodifv,v

y movement'of; saidmovable cavity. member 'duringf ing `arm for rocking the two saidarms coniointly,

a second mold memberpivoted on theend ofthe." swinging arm and movableV bodily with. respect to the other mold member, and-rotarycammeans; associated with thesecond mold member to rock. it upon' its pivot during the bodily movement.

` 3. A' vulcanizing press comprisingV ar base;4 n.55

mold memberattachedto .thebasa a pivotedk arm'y -journaled on the base; a.: second mold member carriedon thepivoted arm and. movable bodily its operation; one;- ofi said. membersr controlling lateralE movement of! the movable cavitysmemberandi the'- other controlling:y vertical movement of;

the-movable cavitymefxr'ibera. l 9'.` Apparatus for` use inv vulcanizlng. tires l comprisingV a. tire moldingl cavity member; a second cavity member for embracingV onefside-.of aztiref.

protrudlngfrom saidmolding cavity, member; ro-

tary means forl raising; said" second cavity: mem-- thereby.' a plurality of movable' oamssforlcon-j' trolling I movement :of the second mold? member.

and" an ar'm extending from the second mold, -member and operatively associated with.: saldi foams, oneof said camslcontrolling lateral'move'-` ment of the movable-moldmember and anotherg of'said cams controlling verticalmovement. of the. movable mold member.vv

4.' A` vulcanizing "press comprisingy a base, a. mold member attached tothe base; a pivoted arm: journaled! on the base, a second mold member carried'on the pivoted arm and` movable bodily thereby. av shaft in the base, a plurality oi. cams.`

on the shaft, an' arm 'extending from theV second` mold'member and operatively associated with said?.

cams, one of said cams controlling lateral move-1 ment of the second mold member and anotherof said cams controlling vertical movement of the ber; and' rotary meansz for transversely shiftingI said; second: cavity'fmember-a substantial? distance transverselyv of: itsY axis: whilel embracing the tire to loosen: saidtire from saidy mold'cavity.;

10. Apparatusfor useinwulcanizingi-tirescome. -prising va tire molding: cavity memberi. a second*A shiftable cavityv member` for, embracing: one; side.- of a tire protruding; from; said. molding:v cavity,` member, and' rotary meanslfor' simultaneouslyY raising and -transversely shiftinsald? secondrcav ity member whilemaintainedini embracing rela-- tion-.to saidr tire' to loosen said atireifromsaidmold .cavity member;.

1 1'.v Apparatus ion` use.. inlvulcanizing tires 1 comprisingf a tiremolding cavity' member a1 secondv cavity member" for embracing. one side of' a. tire protruding'. fromz saldi molding .cavityv memben, said'y cavity' members: being; relatively movable away from: each; other toopeny the apparatus; and. towardyeach. other.' tofclose the. apparatus.. rotarymeansior raisingsaid2 second cavitymember. rotaryl means for. transversely shifting' said..

of a tire protruding from said molding cavity,

rotary means for simultaneously raising and transversely shifting said second cavity member while maintained in embracing relation to said tire to loosen said tire from said mold cavity member, and means including said iirst named means (or subsequently bringing the cavity members into substantial parallelism prior to closing the apparatus and ,to maintain them in parallel- 10 ism until the apparatus is closed.

IESLIE E. SODERQUIST. 

